Folding table.



No. @5734er Patented April i9, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER n. MoNTeoMERnoE snnEvEPonr, Louisiana.

SPECIFICATION .arming part of Letters Patent No. 757,481, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed November 28, 1902. Serial No. 133,126. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it 10Q/ty con/cern:

Be it known that I, WALTER R. MONTGOM- ERY, a citizen of theV United States, residing at Shreveport, in the parish of Caddo and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Folding Table, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements inl with legs adapted to lfold against the top of the table without necessitating the removal of the drawer. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which will enable the legs at either end of the table to fold directly against the top and which will permit theother set of legs to fold compactly against the legs which are arranged against the top.

Another object of the invention is to dispense with hinges and to facilitate assembling the parts and connecting the folding legs to the top of the table.

rEhe invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustratedv in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

- In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View, partly in section, of afolding table constructed in accordance with this invention, the table being folded.. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, the parts being arranged for use. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one corner of the table. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of one leg and the connecting-bar. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a portion of a table, illustrating a portion of the legs. Y

Lilie numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. i v

1 designates the top of a vtable provided with side and end rails 2 and 3, the end rails 3 being permanently secured or otherwise suitprovided at their ends with bearings for the reception of journals 2L of the side rails,which are adapted to swing transversely of the table, as hereinafter explained.

The side rails 2 are provided near their ends with bearing slots or recesses 4, which are elongated to permit the legs 5 of the table to ,be moved to and from the top 1 in folding the legs, whereby either set of legs may be arranged against the top and the other set compactly folded against the set which is next to the top. The legs 5 of each end are connected by a transverse bar 6, which is provided at its ends with journals 7, arranged in the bearing slots or recesses 4, and the latter are vertically disposed, as clearly shown in Fig. 6,` and the journals may be readily introduced into the slot or bearing recesses when the side rails are swung outward. The side rails are normally held in the position illustrated in the accompanying drawings by means of transverse springs 8, connected with the side rails and with the bars 6 and constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described in Patent No. 665,825, dated January 1, 1901. The springs'are'fa'dapted to swing the legs outward in unfolding the table, and they are capable of securely holding the side rails in proper position and of preventing the same from' accidentally swinging outward and releasing the legs. Either set of legs is adapted to be folded iiat against the lower face of the top of the table, and the other set of legs may be compactlyfoldedagainst the iirst set, as the journals will move outward in the bearing slots or recesses of the side rails. The legs are held rigidly with the sides and top when the table is in use by means of catches 9 and 10, consisting of resilient plates secured at their inner ends to the inner faces of the side rails at the recesses 11 thereof and having their outer portions bent at right angles to form arms 12 and toprovide shoulders '13 for engaging the inner side faces of the legs. The shoulders are arranged vertically and lock the legs against inward movement to prevent them from folding. The' engaging portions of the catches are also provided with horizontal flanges or lugs 14, which fit in kerfs or reably fixed to the lower face of the top 1 and cesses 15 of the legs, wherebyY the journals 100 are locked in the upper portionof the bearing-slots of the side rails. The arms 12 of the catches extend through slots 16 of the side rails and terminate in suitable grips or handles which enable the shoulders and the lugs or iianges to be readily withdrawn from engagement with the legs to permit the latter to fold; but the handle portions of the catches may be constructed in any other suitable manner. The kerfs or recesses 15, which receive the lugs or flanges, extend horizontally from the outer side edges of the upper portions of the lugs or legs to permit thelugs or {ianges to slide readily into and out of engagement with them, and the Shanks or body portions of the resilient plates are arranged at a slight angle to the inner faces of the side rails and are adapted to throw the shoulders and thev 1, and are adapted to be readily pressed backv against the inner faces of the side rails when it is desired to arrange the legs for use. The

resilient arms 17 are adapted to engage either legs.

set of legs, and, if desired, each of the catches may be provided with one of the said arms; but one at each side of the table will be sufficient.

The table is provided at the lower face of its top with centrally-arranged Vways 18, terminating short of the side rails and receiving a drawer 19, provided at opposite sides with suitable grooves to be engaged by the ways. The ways preferably consist of suitable cleats provided with flanges extending into the grooves of the drawer, and the latter is adapted to be arranged in the center of the table between the legs when the latter is folded, whereby the drawer is permitted to remain on the table when the latter is folded. One of the side rails is provided with an opening 20, through which the drawer may be drawn, and the outward movement of the drawer is limited by suitable stops 21, mounted on the drawer at the lower face thereof and arranged to engage one of the side rails when the drawer is pulled out. When the table is in position for use, the inward movement of the drawer is limited by a pivoted button secured to the lower face of the table-top, and this button 22 is adapted to be arranged transversely of a notch or recess 23 of the back of the drawer to pass through the said notch or recess when it is desired to arrange the drawer at the middle of the table preparatory to foldingthe The drawer when arranged at the center of the table terminates short of and is spaced from the side rails to provide spaces for the legs, and the latterwill prevent the drawer from leaving the ways. The pivoted button 22 is also adapted to turn longitudinally ofthe table, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to provide a stop for limiting the inward movement of the drawer.

It will be seen that thevfolding table is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is adapted when not in use to be compactly folded, and that when folded the drawer does not have to be removed. Furthermore, it is clear that hinges are dispensed with and that the hinged legs are readily connected with pivotally mounted or hinged sides which are journaled in the fixed end rails.

It will be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is- 1. A table having a top provided with ways terminating short of the edges of the table, a drawer arranged in the said ways and adapted to be moved in the center of the table and provided at its inner end with a notch, a movable stop mounted on theftop and arranged to limit thc inward movement of the drawer and adapted also to be arranged to pass through the notch or recess, and folding legs arranged to fold at opposite sides of the drawer when thel latter are at the center of the table, substantially as described.

2. In a folding table, the combination of a top, a folding leg pivotally connected with the IOO top and capable of a limited sliding movement and a catch mgunted on the top of the table and arranged to engage the leg to hold it from swinging, said catch being also provided with a lug or flange to lock the leg against sliding, substantially as described.

3. In a folding table, the combination of a top having side rails provided with elongated bearings, folding legs provided with kerfs or recesses and having journals arranged in the bearings, and catches mounted on the side rails and provided with shoulders for engaging the side faces of the legs and having lugs or flanges for engaging the kerfs or recesses, substantially as described.

4. In a folding table, the combination of a top provided with side and end rails, the side rails having elongated bearing recesses or slots, folding legs arranged in pairs and having journals fitting in the bearing recesses or slots, and catches mounted on the side rails and engaging the legs to hold the same in their operative position and provided with arms for locking the same in their folded position, substantially as described.

5. In a folding table, thc combination of a top provided with side and end rails, the side rails being pivotally mounted and provided IIO lwith bearings, and legs having pivots arranged in the bearings of the side rails, substantially as described.

6. In a folding table, the combination of a top, end rails secured to the top and provided with bearings, side rails provided with pivots or journals arranged in the bearings in the end rails and adapted to swing outward, said side rails alsobeing provided with bearings, and folding legs provided with pivots or journals arranged in the bearings of the side rails and adapted to be placed therein and removed therefrom, when the side rails are swung outward, substantially as described.

7. In a folding table, the combination of a top, xed end rails secured to the top and provided with bearings, side rails having journals arranged within the bearings, said side rails being also provided with bearings and adapted to swing inward and outward, legs arranged in pairs and provided with journals arranged in the bearings of the side rails and locking devices mounted on the side rails and carried by the same and adapted to engage the legs to hold the latter in their operative position, substantially as described.

8. In a folding table, the combination of a top provided with bearings, side rails having pivots or journals arranged in the bearings and adapted to swing outward, said side rails also being provided with bearings, legs arranged in pairs and having pivots fitting in the bearings of the side rails, and catches mounted on the side rails and engaging the legs, said legs being adapted to be interloeked with and removed from the side rails when the latter are swung outward, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER R. MONTGOMERY.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. HILL, GEORGE VITs. 

